Apple Faces $32.5B Lawsuit Over Photos Facial Recognition

Apple is facing a significant class-action lawsuit in Illinois regarding its facial recognition feature in the Photos app. The lawsuit alleges that Apple violated the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting biometric data without obtaining the required prior notice and written consent. While Apple's implementation is designed to be privacy-focused by running on-device, plaintiffs argue that the feature captures face geometries of both users and non-users, including minors, without explicit permission.

The potential financial impact is massive, with damages potentially reaching $32.5 billion based on statutory penalties for intentional and negligent violations. Although the initial scope of the lawsuit was broader, a judge narrowed the class to Illinois residents who own Apple devices and use the facial recognition feature since the release of iOS 10 in 2016. This narrowed class still includes approximately 6.5 million residents.

Legal experts suggest that Apple may opt for a settlement to avoid the risk of a massive jury award, similar to previous settlements by Google and Meta. A potential resolution could involve Apple implementing an explicit opt-in consent screen for users. The case highlights the tension between modern on-device processing technologies and older privacy laws written before the smartphone era.

(Source：Idrop News)